Adding-machine.



PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

R. SEARS.

ADDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1903.

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ADDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY so. 1903.

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74 122572 eJJ-w, fflww No. 759,478. PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

- R. SEARS.

ADDING MAOHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY so. 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

RICHARD SEARS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ADDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,478, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed July 30, 1903. Serial No. 167,534. (No model.)

To (Ll Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD SEARS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Adding-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

There is a well-known class of adding-machines, of which the Burroughs adding-machine is a conspicuous example, with which the operator by the depression of the proper keys sets them and the determining mechanisms which are severally associated with said keys, and these by the actuation of a lever or some analogous device causes the operation of adding mechanism whereby there is added to the indicated total the amount determined and indicated by the set keys, and during the operation of this adding mechanism all of the unset keys are locked against the depression. In some machines a motor is employed to operate the adding mechanism. This lightens the labors of the operator and also increases the capacity of the machines,

because the motor will do its work'faster than the man can; but even under these conditions the capacity of the machine is restricted, because the man must remain idle while the motor is doing its work, because, as stated, the keys are then looked against movement.

The object of this invention is to prevent the loss of much of the time which is lost by this enforced idleness of the operator.

The invention consists in the combinations of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and definitely pointed out in the claims, by which the operator may set the keys which represent any amount to be added during the time when the motor is adding to the recorded total the amount represented by the keys previously set.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional front view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 of that part of the mechanism shown in the other figures in which my invention is embodied. This leased by the depression of the key C.

view, however, showsonly one row of keys. Fig. 4 is a sectional end view in the plane indicated by line 4 4 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a similar view where the parts shown are in a difi'erent position.

The invention is shown applied to a Burroughs adding-machine, which, however, vit has not been thought necessary to describe, because the machine is well known to those familiar with this art and contains nothing which is new or a part of this invention. C C represent the keys of this old machine. It will be remembered that when an operator depresses one or more of these keys they and the determining mechanism which they operate remain set until the operating-lever F is actuated and that the actuation of this lever first locks all of the other keys against depression and then causes the addition to the previous total of the amount determined by the depressed keys and that finally all of the keys are released and those which were depressed resume their normal position in readiness to be again operated. The lever F is connected by a strap or cord or some other suitable mechanism with the reel L, which is operated by a spring-motor R. This motor is restrained from movement by an escapement which i i i'le- 1s motor is no part of the present invention, and any other motor may be substituted for that shown. In fact, it is not essential to the operation to the major part of this invention that any motor be employed, although it may well be doubted whether the invention would have any pratical value if used with a machine which was not provided with a motor. The particularimotor and escapement and incidental mechanism shown are substantially like those which are shown and described in my pending application, Serial No. 163,158, filed June 26, 1903. The motor and associated mechanism is not herein described in detail nor to any greater extent than is necessary for the understanding of the invention which is hereinafter described. The present invention in the form shown is something added to the computing-machine and motor and incidental mechanism shown in my said prior application,

and, as will be seen, certain parts of the mechanism so shown and described in said prior application are utilized to perform certain functions necessary to some parts of the present invention in the form in which it is shown.

A A represent keys which are mounted so as to have a vertical movement in a frame B, which is rigidly connected with the frame of the adding-machine. There are as many of these keys as there are keys to the addingmachine, and in the embodiment of the invention shown each of the keys A is placed above and in operative relationship with a corresponding key (I. As the invention is shown it is adapted to be applied to the adding-machine without any change in the latter; but it is obvious that this invention and the adding-machine could be mutually adapted to each other in their construction, in which case the keys C could be omitted and the keys A could be arranged so as to operate directly upon those determiningmechanisms which the keys O operate upon or upon any other part of the determining mechanism of which the keys C are elements.

The stem (4 of each of the keys A passes down through a suitable guide-hole 7) in a fixed plate 6, and the lower end of this stem bears against a spring E, which is interposed between it and the key C, wherefore by pressing down upon a key A the corresponding spring E is put under tension, and thereby the key C isdepressed If the key 0 is not locked against depression, its downward movement will be substantially contemporaneous with the downward movement of the key A; but if the key C is locked against depression the downward movement of the key A simply places the spring E under tension, and then when thecorresponding key C is released the spring E moves it down.

Just beneath the plate 7) is a movable plate G, in which there are as many slots 9 as there are keys A, and through each one of these slots one of the stems a passes. A detent K is pivoted .to each stem a, and it normally extends up through a suitable slot in the plate I) and is so placed that When said key is in its elevated position this detent has no function; but when a key A is depressed the corresponding detent will be moved by a spring 71: or some other suitable means, so that its tooth 71; will engage beneath the plate G, and thus the upward movement of this depressed key will be ten'iporarily prevented. It Will be seen, therefore, that the keys A may be depressed whether or not that depression has any immediate influence upon the keys 0 and that said keys A will beheld in the depressed position by said detents K until the said detents are released from their engagement with the plate G. This plate (.ir rests upon suitable supports,upon which it may slide, and it is provided at a suitable point or points with one or more rackbars r outside of the framework B. A rockshaft M is mounted in brackets 7f, secured to the side of this frame B, and to this rockshaft there are secured as many gear-segments N as there are racks g on plate (ir-in the present case two. Each gear-segment engages with one of the racks An arm on is attached to the rock-shaft M, and this arm is connected by a link I with a rocking lever Q, whose end (or a friction-roller Q, mounted thereupon) engages with a cam '1' on the periphery of a rotating member R, and this engagement is maintained and all of the connected parts referred to are returned to their normal positions by the action of a spring 0. The rotating member R is connected with the motor in such a way that it makes one complete revolution and no more during the time that the motor is causing the lever F to move through its cycle. The specific motor shown is a springbarrel,and the member B may be the spring-barrel itself, which is restrained from rotating by the engagement of the arm 7" with the detent t. This detent tand its associated members-viz., the rock-shaft T, of which the detent is a part, and the arm 25, attached to said rockshaft-are moved to release the barrel R by the depression of the key-bar C. A key-piece A and spring E are associated with this key-bar Ur, and the key A is vertically movable through a lateral extension of a top plate 7) and of the plate (1?, and it is provided with a detent K, similar to the detents K, previously described.

.The operation of the described mechanism is as follows: The operator depresses such of the keys A as will represent the amount to be added. The detents K will engage with the plate G and hold these keys down for the time being. The concurrent compression of the springs E depresses the corresponding keys 0, which keys, because of the construction of the adding-machine itself, become set. The operator then depresses the escapementkey A, which is likewise held down by its detent K. This key, through the associated spring E, depresses the key 0, thereby operating the described escapement and releasing the motor by which the arm F is actuated. In the very first part of the movement of the member R the lever Q is pressed downward by the 'cam 9', which movement is transmitted to the rock-shaft M. The rocking of the shaft M shifts the segments carried thereby and, through their engagement with the racks upon the under side of the plate (1, shift the same so that the shoulders of the detents K and K are freed from the under side of the plate Gr, whereby all of the keys which have been depressed will be set free to return to their'normal position ready to be again depressed, the motor and the member 1% continuing their movements. The operator may again depress the keys A, with the results be- IIC fore stated, and may again depress the key A, and these keys may all be depressed while the motor is operating the arm F and allowing it to return to its normal position.

As before stated, the mechanism shown for operating the adding mechanism after the keys have been set is substantially the same as that which forms the subject-matter of my now pending application, Serial No. 163,158. In that mechanism a cam r is attached to the springbarrel and engages just before the spring-barrel comes to rest with an arm t on the detent-shaft, whereby said shaft is moved so as to carry said detent into the path of the stop- .arm r on the barrel and to also raise the key A.

There is also included in that-mechanism a latch U, by which the downward movement of said key and the consequent movement of the detent to release the spring-barrel is prevented while the reel L is turning backward, so as to permit the operating-arm of the adding mechanism to resume its normal position. This latch is in the form of a bell-crank lever having one arm which may engage with an arm 25 on the detent-shaft and having another arm, a, which is in the path of a finger Z on the reel. Just after the detent-shaft has by the operation of the cam r been turned into operative position and just before the springbarrel has been stopped by the detent and just the instant before the reel has been disconnected from the spring-barrel the finger Z strikes the latch-arm a and moves the latch U behind the arm 25 on the detent-shaft. As stated, this holds the detentshaft against movement and holds the key C up. Then when the reel is released from the detent, as when the fixed piece 0; trips the. connectingdetent Q the reel is turned backward by the backward movement of arm F. Just before the reel reaches the limit of its backward movement the fingerl again strikes latch-arm U on the opposite side and withdraws the latch. The key 0 may now be moved down and will be immediately so moved by spring E, provided the key A is down. If, therefore, the operator can depress the keys so fast, the reel will be in substantially constant motion backward and forward. The adding operations may therefore be carried on to the full capacity of the mechanism, which will generally be quite as fast as the man is able to depress the keys. A lever-arm g is attached to the rock-shaft M, whereby one may operate the latter, and thus release the depressed keys A and A whenever this is desirable, as when a wrong key has been depressed.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. The combination, with an adding-machine of the character specified, having suitable determining mechanism, of movable keys for setting the determining mechanism, mechanism whereby the downward movement only of said keys is transmitted to the associated determining mechanism of the machine, movable mechanism for holding said keys down temporarily, and for releasing them, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with an adding-machine having suitable determining mechanisms, of keys capable of actuating said determining mechanisms, means for actuating the adding mechanism of the machine, and means whereby keys may be set during the operation of the adding-mechanism-actuating device.

3. The combination, with an adding-machine of the character specified, having suitable determining mechanism,of movable keys, intermediate mechanism whereby the downward movement only of said keys is transmitted to the determining mechanisms of the machine, mechanism for holding said keys down temporarily, a motor for operating the adding mechanism of the machine, and means operated by the motor for moving the keyholding mechanism to release said keys, substantiall y as specified.

4;. The combination, with an adding-machine of the character specified, having suitable determining mechanism, of keys capable of being moved downward while the associated determining mechanisms of the addingmachine are locked against movement, means for holding said keys down temporarily, mechanism whereby, when the determining mechanisms are released, those which correspond with the depressed keys will be automatically reset, a motor for operating the adding mechanism of the machine, and mechanism whereby said motor in the first part ofits movement will move the key-holding mechanism and release the depressed keys, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with an adding-machine of the character specified having suitable determiningmechanism,of movable keys, and mechanism intermediate of said keys and the determining mechanisms of. the machine whereby the depression of the keys is possible independent of the determining mechanisms, means for holding said keys down temporarily, and mechanism intermediate of the keys and setting mechanisms whereby those determining mechanisms corresponding with the depressed keys will be automatically moved and set as soon as they are released from the mechanism which prevents their movement during the time the adding mechanism is in operation, substantially as specified.

6. In an adding-machine of the character specified, the combination with the determining mechanisms thereof, of keys which are movable independently of said determining mechanism, power transmitting mechanism between said keys and determining mechanisms which is put under tension by the desprings interposed between said keys and the determining mechanism of the adding-machine, means for temporarily preventing the return movement of the depressed keys, and mechanism which operates contemporaneously with the adding mechanism of the machine for releasing said depressed keys, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with an adding-machine of the character specifiechef the keys A,springs interposed between said keys and the determining mechanism of the adding-machine, detents severally carried by said keys, a sliding plate through which the key-stems pass and with which said detents may engage, and mechanism which operates contemporaneously with the adding mechanism of the machine for moving said plate to release said detents, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with an adding-machine of the character specified, amotor operatively connected with the adding mechanism thereof, and escapement mechanism which restrains said motor from action, of the keys A, springs interposed between said keys and the determining mechanism of the adding-machine, means by which the return movement of said keys is temporarily prevented, and mechanism operatively connected with said motor whereby said depressed keys are released from the influence of said restraining means, substantially as specified.

10. The combination of an adding-machine of the character specified, a motor operatively connected with the adding mechanism of said machine, escapement mechanism restraining said motor from action, a key for releasing said eseapement, and means for returning said escapement-key and for preventing its subsequent depression until the adding mechanism has returned to its rest position, of the keys A, springs interposed between said keys and the determining mechanism of the addingmachine, a key A and a springinterposed between it and the escapement-key, means which temporarily restrain the return movement of the depressed keys A A, and means operating contemporaneously with the adding mechanism of the machine for releasing said depressed keys, substantially as specified.

11. The combination with an adding-machine of the character specified, amotor operatively connected with the adding mechanism of said machine, and an escapement restraining the motor from action, of the keys A, springs interposed between said keys and the determining mechanisms of the adding-machine, detents carried by said keys, a movable plate through which the stems of said keys pass and with which said detents engage when the associated keys are depressed, a rack carried by said plate, a gear-segment engaging said rack, and power-transmitting mechanism between this gear-segment and the motor, substantially as specified.

12. The combination with an adding-machine of the character specified, a motor operatively connected with the adding mechanism of said machine, and. an escapement restraining the motor from action, of the keys A, springs between said keys and the determining mechanisms of the adding-machine, detents carried by said keys, a movable plate through which the stems of said keys pass and with which said detents engage when the associated keys are depressed, a rack carried by said plate, a rotating member operatively connected with the motor and having a cam on its periphery, a lever in engagement with said periphery and adapted to be engaged by said cam, and power-transmitting mechanism in terposed between said lever and the gear-segment, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD SEARS.

Vitnesses:

ALBERT H. BATES, J. B. HULL. 

